The Great Divide: Public or Private Equity?

Over the last four years, equity markets have seen a stealth value bull market. However, despite this outperformance, value managers have not yet seen large asset allocations being directed to this turnaround story. One of the possible drivers of the lack of interest, is the fascination with private equity (PE). Warren Buffett at his 2019 AGM commented, “We have seen a number of proposals from PE funds where the returns are really not calculated in a manner that I would regard as honest. If I were running a pension fund, I would be very careful about what was being offered to me.” An audacious quote, even from Warren, and an idea investors might be mindful of as they make asset allocation decisions.